Pedal-action for player-pianos.



C. H. LADEW, SB.

PEDAL ACTION FOR PLAYER PIANOS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1914.

1,128,882. 'Patented Feb.16,1915

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PEDAL ACTION FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLIQATION FILED MAY 27, 1914.

1,128,882. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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*HE MORRIS PETERS Co.. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. DA C.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFCE.l

CHARLES HENRY LADEW, SR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH W. BIRNBAUM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PEDAL-ACTION FOR PLAYER-PIANOS.

Specieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. f6, 1915.

Application led May 27, 1914. Serial No. 841,219.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES H. LADEW, Sr., a citizen of the United States, and a. resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented a. new and Improved Pedal-Action for Player- Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pedal action for player pianos, arranged to control the hammer rail and the damper rail of the piano action in the usual manner when playing the piano by hand, or to permit of actuating the bellows from the same pedals when using the instrument as a player piano.

In order to accomplish the desired result, use is made of a coupling adapted to couple a pedal with the rail actua-ting mechanism of the piano action or with the actuating device for the bellows.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is aplan view of the pedal action with the couplings in position to connect the usual loud and soft pedals with the actuating mechanisms of the bellows; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the pedals and its coupling connected with the corresponding lifter lever; Fig. t is a sectional front view of the pivotal connection of a pedal and the lever for actuatingthe bellows, the section being on the line eof Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a sectional front view of the coupling in position for connecting a pedal with the lifter levers, the section being on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views showing the interior of a 'player piano and the connections between the rail, the rail lifters, the bellows, bellows levers, and the pedals.

The player piano is provided with the usual three pedals, A, B and C, of which the side pedals A and B are adapted to actuate the lifter levers D, D for controlling the hammer rail and the damper rail of the piano action in the usual manner when playing the piano by hand, or the said pedals A and B are adapted to be connected with the actuating levers E and E for the bellows whenever the piano is used as a player piano. It is understood that when the pedals A and B are connected with the levers D and D they are disconnected from the actuating levers E and E for the bellows, and when the pedals A and B are connected with the said actuating levers E and E they are disconnected from the levers D and D. ln order to accomplish the desired result use is made of a coupling F on each pedal A and B. The coupling is in the form of a plate F arranged on the under side of the corresponding pedal A or B. The plate F is provided with slots F2 through which extends screws G screwing in the pedal A or B to permit of sliding the plate F forward or backward on the corresponding pedal A or B. The forward end of the plate F is provided with a button F3 under the control of the user of the player piano to permit the user to conveniently shift the coupling into either of its two active positions. The rear end of the plate F is provided with an upwardly extending loop Fi adapted to engage the forward end of a lever E2 forming part of the corresponding pedal actuating mechanism E or E. The lever E2 is fulcrumed on a pivot H which also forms the fulcrum for the corresponding pedal A or B, and the lever E2 is pressed on by a spring and its rear end is provided with a friction roller E3 engaging a slot Ei in a bell crank lever E5 connected by a link E with the movable meinber of the corresponding bellows. It will be noticed that when the loop F4 engages the lever E2, as shown in Fig. 2, then the said lever is coupled to the corresponding pedal A or B and consequently when the pedal is alternately pressed and released, a swinging motion is given to the lever E2 whereby the bell crank lever E5 is actuated and with it the corresponding bellows. Now on pressing the pedals A and B alternately up and down the bellows are actuated in the usual manner.

Each plate F is provided with a sidewise extending arm F5 adapted to enga ge a slotted keeper D2 or D3 attached to the corresponding lifter lever D or D. The arm F5 is so arranged relatively to the loop FdL that when the loop F 4 engages the lever E2 the arm F5 is out of engagement with the slotted keeper D2, and when the coupling is shifted forwardly then the loop F 4 disengages tle'lever E2 while the arm F5 moves into engagement with the keeper D2 to connect the corresponding pedal with the corresponding lever D or D, and at the .same time the corresponding pedal is disconnected from the lever E2 of the corresponding bellows actuating mechanism E or E. When the pedals A and B are now pressed they actuate in the usual manner the hammer rail or the damper rail, as the case may be, of the piano action.

From the foregoing it will be seen that it is not necessaryvto use separate pedals for actuating the: bellows as the regular soft and loud pedals of the piano action are used for actuating thefbellows and it is only necessary for the user to shift thecouplings` F from one position to the other to allow the useof the pedals A and B for actuating` the bellows or the hammer and damper rails. It will further be noticed that the rearwardly folding bellows actuating mechanism heretofore used is 'entirely dispensed with and the appearance of the pedals is the same as in ordinary pianos now in use.

Having thus' described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byv Letters Patent: I

l. A pedal action for player pianos comprising in combination a pedal, a rail lifting lever,` a bellows actuating lever, and means for manually connecting or disconnecting said pedal with said rail lifting lever or the bellows actuating lever.

2. A pedal action for player pianos comprisingl a pedal, arail lifting lever and a bellows actuating lever, and a manually controlled coupling adapted to connect said pedal with said rail lifting lever or with said bellows actuating lever.

3. A pedal action for player pianos, comprising a pedal, a rail lifting lever, a bellows actuating lever, a manually controlled coupling carried'by saidpedal and adapted to` connect said pedal with the rail lifting lever or with the bellows actuating lever to allow ofl actuating the rail liftingleveron manipulatingthe pedal or to allow of actuatingthe bellows actuating lever on manipulating the pedal.`

4.* A pedal action for player pianos, comprising a pedal, a manually controlled coupling adapted to connect said. pedal with a rail lifting lever or with va bellows actuating lever to allow of` actuating the rail lifting lever on manipulating the pedal or to allow; Ofactuating thel bellows actuating lever on manipulating the pedal.

1 5.v In a player piano, the combination of a rail lifting-lever, a bellows actuating lever, a pedal, and a coupling capable of, being moved into twoy positions, the coupling in one position connecting the said lpedal with the said rail lifting lever and the said coupling in the'other position connecting the said pedal with the bellows lifting lever.

G. In a player piano, the combination of rail connections, bellows connections, pedals, and couplings slidable on the said pedals and each adapted to be moved into two positions, they couplings in one position connecting the said pedals with the said rail connections and the said couplings in the other position connecting the said pedals with the said bellows connections.

7. In a player piano the combination with a piano pedal consisting of two members overlapping at their ends, one member being pivotally supported and adapted to be oper` ably connected with a bellows actuating lever, of a coupling member comprising a box-like loop embracing the aforesaid overlapped ends,'and slidable thereon, an eXtension lprojecting forwardly from said loop and adapted to be used as a handle to slide the coupling member rearwardly to couple the pedal with the bellows actuating lever and forwardly to uncouple said parts.

8. In a player piano, the combination of a piano pedal, a coupling mounted to slide on the said pedal, 'a bellows actuating lever adapted to be engaged by the said coupling to actuate the lever and bellows on manipulating the pedal, and a rail lifter lever adapted to be engaged by the said coupling to actuate the rail on manipulatingthe said pedal. 1

9. In a player piano, thecombination with a piano pedal, of a coupling member comprising a box-like loop embracing the pedal and slidable thereon, a member vextending forwardly from said loop beneath the pedal and serving. as a handle a rail lifting lever and a horizontal; arm.V extending transversely from said forwardlyI extending member, and adapted to operably' engage the vsaid rail lifting lever.

10. In a player piano,kthe combination of a piano pedal, a coupling mounted toE slide on the said. pedal, a bellows actuating lever adaptedto be engaged by the said coupling to actuate'the saidlever on manipulating the said pedal, a rail lifter lever,'and a coupling member on the said rail` lifter lever and adaptedy to be' engaged by the said coupling on'moving the latter out of engagement with the said bellows vactuating lever.

11. In aplayer piano, the combination of a pedal having'a pivot at its rear end, a coupling mounted to slide on the said pedal and having a loop, a sidewise extendingarm, and a handle extending forward under the pedal, abellows actuating lever'fulcrumed on the said pivotk independent .of the said pedal, the saidlever being adapted: to be engagedf by the saidloop to lock the lever to the said pedal, and a rail lifter lever having a keeper adapted to be engaged by the said coupling arm.

12. In a player piano, the combination of a pedal having a pivot at its rear end, a coupling mounted to slide on the said pedal and having a loop, a sidewise extending arm and a handle extending forward under the pedal, a bellows actuating lever ulcrumed on the said pivot independent of the said pedal, the said lever being adapted to be engaged by the said loop to lock the lever t0 the said pedal, and a rail lifter lever having a. keeper adapted to be engaged by the said coupling arm, the said coupling on being moved rearward coupling the pedal to the said bellows actuating lever and uncoupling the pedal and the rail lifter lever, and the said coupling on being moved forward coupling the pedal with the said lifter lever and uncoupling the bellows actuating lever from the pedal.

13. In a player piano, the combination of a pedal having a pivot at its rear end, a coupling mounted to slide on said pedal and having a loop, a sidewise extending arm and a handle extending forward under the pedal, a lever fulcrumed on said pivot independent of the pedal and forming part of the bellows actuating mechanism said lever adapted to be engaged by said loop to lock the lever to the pedal, and having a slot at its rear end, an antifriction roller ournaled in said slot, a bell crank lever having a slotted arm engaged by said antifriotion roller, a spring for controlling the slotted lever, and a rail lifter lever having a keeper adapted to be engaged by the aforesaid coupling arm, the said coupling on being moved rearward coupling the pedal to the said bellows actuating lever, and uncoupling the pedal and the rail lifter lever and the said coupling on being moved forward coupling the pedal with said lifter lever and uncoupling the bellows actuating lever from the pedal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES HENRY LADEV, SP..

Witnesses:

CHAS. HENRY LA DEW, Jr. LUDWIG F. BECKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

